On May 5th, the Donald Trump campaign announced they would be visiting the Northwest for two stops on May 7th: one all the way in Eastern Washington, and the other all the way in Lynden. I decided to head up to Lynden at the crack of dawn for the two-hour drive and make portraits of attendees and supporters as a personal project. When I arrived six hours before the rally, there were at least 200 people already in line, stretching down the street outside the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds. Pushing around a beauty dish on a rolling lightstand, I stopped to ask people to make their picture, while others would flag me down and ask what I was up to. I got lots of questions about who I was working for, where I lived, and what did I personally believe? Still, everyone was very accommodating and it was exciting to see the energy in the area even as supporters endured long lines and hours in the sun (fyi, I’m still sunburnt). It was a fun and historic day to document – the little town of Lynden will probably never entertain another presidential candidate, as many supporters noted.

A truck belonging to John Beavers of Belfair, Washington, at a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

“Trump’s going to be the strongest for veterans and keep out drugs,” said Clay of Ferndale, holding the hand of his 14-month-old daughter, Liberty, while waiting in line for a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Logan, Jake and Eli, no last names given, center, wait in line before a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Twins Leslie and Alex Strandgard, 16, of Lynden, stand in front of Alex’s truck with their father, Rich, across the street from a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. “Lynden is a real conservative town,” Rich said. “We weren’t sure if there was going to be any trouble. You hear only snippets of his speech. I kind of wanted to see what else he talks about.” Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Six hours before the rally, a street merchant works the line. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Donald Trump supporters Dan Thompson, left, and Scott Holen, both of Lynden. “This is a once in a lifetime deal,” Holen said. “I’ve been so disillusioned with the whole process for so long I didn’t have a reason to participate until now.” Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Lynden 14-year-olds Jack Berry, Eric Bode and Sullivan Klyn painted their chests before a rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. “We gotta make America great again,” said Berry. “It’s the only time this might happen to a little place called Lynden,” said Bode. “We’re making history for a good cause.” Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Trent Kettles of Lynden waits in line ahead of a Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

“This is a big step. I can’t miss this. I’m young,” said Michael Baldwin, who noted he was born and raised in Lynden, while waiting to get into a rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Protestors took aim from across the street, the physical space separating them Trump supporters, outside of a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Three arrests were made when protestors laid down in the street to block the path of Trump’s planned route into the area. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Chase, Joel and Melanie, no last names given, of Edgewood, wait in line at a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Joel S. of Bellingham, in red cap, waits in line with thousands of other Trump supporters attending a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Washington State Troopers stand near a main entrance into the rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. A reported 5,000 people attended the event, which attracted considerable protest ahead of the planned 3 p.m. speech, delayed by an hour when Trump’s plane was late leaving an earlier stop in Spokane. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Rocky Toussant of Bellingham holds a homemade sign while walking into a rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. A reported 5,000 people attended the event, which attracted considerable protest ahead of the planned 3 p.m. speech, delayed by an hour when Trump’s plane was late leaving an earlier stop in Spokane. Lynden is home to about 12,000 people and was a last-minute host to the presidential candidate after the campaign had difficulty obtaining permits for a hastily planned event in Seattle, located two hours away. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Protestors took aim from across the street, the physical space separating them Trump supporters, outside of a campaign stop and rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Three arrests were made when protestors laid down in the street to block the path of Trump’s planned route into the area. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

“I’m hoping and praying that Trump becomes president,” said Tabitha Staton of Mount Baker, “because we will finally get the change we deserve.” Staton was one of about 5,000 people who attended a rally by Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Dan Sanford of Concrete waits in line to enter a rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Jon Honorof of Lynden wore a shirt that he said has been in his family for generations. “The beliefs still stand strong,” Honorof said, standing near his family waiting in line to enter a rally for Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump in Lynden, Washington at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds Saturday May 7, 2016. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Coming from nearby Bellingham, Sehome High School students Colleen Graham, Glory DeCoteau, Olen Sandeno, Sean Graham, Tyler Carroll and Aiden Capistro came to support Republican Presidential Candidate Donald Trump at his rally May 7, 2016 at the Northwest Washington Fairgrounds in Lynden, Washington. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

Since I did not have press credentials, I was unable to bring my lighting or large digital SLR into the rally – and believe me, I tried 🙂 Ahead of time, I obtained a free ticket into the event. I packed up my gear and retrieved the small Samsung NX500 point and shoot that I keep in my glovebox. I was able to bring that in fortunately and document the actual rally. As people waited and took selfies with friends, organizers played a handful of songs over and over. “Can’t always get what you want” by the Rolling Stones certainly seemed like an odd choice.

Dia de los Muertos celebration at El Centro de la Raza Nov. 2, 2015 in the Beacon Hill area of Seattle. Photos by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

It was so nice to get out and shoot some personal work this week.

My colleague Matt Mills McKnight and I collaborated on a series of portraits of attendees at a Dia de Los Muertos event hosted by El Centro De La Raza in Seattle. We loaded in and taped up a black roll of paper in a nook of the jam-packed hallway and set up a few lights to enhance the spooky vibe. Matt found many great people to stop by the makeshift studio in the short time we had there. I focused on the beautiful makeup and I am grateful to everyone for welcoming us in.

Oregon legalized the use and possession of recreational marijuana officially on July 1st and I was running around Portland most of that week on assignment for Oregon Leaf. After seeing a tweet mentioning I would be in town, Eugene Reznik at American Photo Magazine reached out about me taking over their @AmericanPhotoMag account while documenting this historic news. They have shared the work of a lot of very talented people (seriously go follow them) so it was a nice way to start my day. I said I was in, he offered a few suggestions and then just set me loose. No pressure. I shared a handful of photos from a couple of the different recreational pot events in Portland where locals got some of their first opportunities to try, buy and smoke marijuana legally. Hopefully we gained a couple of followers? Big thanks to Eugene for the chance to get these images out to a wider audience and to write a bit about covering marijuana right now in the Northwest amid these changing times.

Well, about 700,000 of the Seahawk’s closest friends jammed into downtown Seattle and the stadium district to get a glimpse at their favorite players and coaches rolling by in today’s Super Bowl Victory Parade. The weather hovered in the mid-20s for most of the morning, though sunshine was a welcome respite by the time the parade began. The cheering crowds who endured the weather and wait were screaming their hearts out, and it just felt like an amazing moment for everyone in the city to come together and witness this historic day. Go Hawks!

The streets of Seattle are filled with confetti and shouting tonight as the Seahawks bring home the Vince Lombardi trophy! Their incredible season was capped off by an absurdly effective offensive and defensive plan. What a game. I tried to catch some of the fray in the Ballard neighborhood of Seattle, where the cheering of Sea….was always met by a resounding HAAAAWKS. What a season and what a night!

Seattle Seahawks fans celebrate after their 43-8 victory in the Super Bowl over the Denver Broncos Sunday Feb. 2, 2014 on Ballard Avenue in Seattle. Photo by Daniel Berman/www.bermanphotos.com

PDN Photo Editor Amy Wolff reached out to me earlier this week about possibly featuring my Seahawks fans portrait series for their Pictures of the Day post leading up to Super Bowl Sunday. They have posted the gallery and I am thrilled to be in the fine company of so many talented people. Go spend some time looking through the posts, there is a really diverse selection of imagery.

I had the privilege of assisting David Ryder and Reuters news service on the sidelines of the NFC Championship game! When I wasn’t busy running back and forth to the media room, making laps around the field’s periphery, I was able to make a few of my own pictures. The atmosphere inside Centurylink was electric; even with earplugs firmly in, the noise was intense and unforgettable. When the final few moments of the game ticked away and the Seahawks started celebrating, I rushed the field with everyone else, working my way into a scrum surrounding some of the exiting players. Confetti was shot from cannons and I did my best to make a few pictures in those frenetic moments. The game was an amazing and challenging experience I’ll never forget — now I can’t wait to watch the Super Bowl. From a bar…

Tonight was just about the craziest night I have ever documented. Police were well-prepared for protestors connected to May Day events here in Seattle, and the expected violence got underway pretty early in the evening. It was incredibly intense to be in the middle of this developing news story, as smoke grenades were going off and police were shouting at everyone to “Get back,” as they pushed at the crowd with their bikes. Just as I was walking all over the city with the crowd and protestors and media, it was all I could do to just keep moving, and trying to keep my head on a swivel. My big fear going in was that an anarchist might try and grab my camera or assault me, as happened last year to other media shooters, and so atleast I was fortunate in that regard. All in all, a damn crazy night. Even if it was nice to see the 20 photojournalists from around Seattle doing great work all afternoon. And an enormous thank you to Matt Mills McKnight, Erika Schultz and Ted S. Warren for loaning me some cards tonight when I realized I left my card wallet in the car with the laptop!

APhotoADay.org is an amazing community of photographers from all backgrounds who share their daily photographs. It’s a chance to get feedback on new work and projects, or to compare notes on topics like freelancing. Every day, one of the thousands of pictures shared on the discussion list previously is displayed on the front page of the website. And today, one of my favorite pictures from BunnyCon was featured, and that just kind of makes my day. Don’t forget to browse the archives, it’s full of stunning work.